Don’t take your car battery for granted this summer and beyond
(BPT) - Nearly one in four vehicles on the road today needs a new battery - most without warning signs of upcoming failure.
Extreme summer heat can quietly weaken your car's battery long before you notice any issues, putting today's vehicles at increasing risk. And the 12-volt battery in every vehicle, full electric, gas and hybrid, meets more power demands than ever before.
Many drivers associate cold temperatures with dead batteries, but summer heat has a large impact on battery health. Hot temperatures can cause internal battery components to break down, shortening the battery life, according to experts at Clarios, the Wisconsin-based maker of one out of every three car batteries worldwide.
Today's vehicles are essentially rolling advanced computers, which rely on the 12-volt battery to power them. Two decades ago, a luxury vehicle might have a simple computer system, power windows and a few electronic modules. Nowadays, most vehicles have more than 50 electronic control units to run large infotainment screens, advanced driver assist technologies and multiple cameras.
All this computing power makes the summer heat even harsher on a car battery.
To help drivers keep up with the growing demands on today's vehicles, Clarios battery experts offer four simple tips to avoid heat-related battery issues:
- PARK SMART: Park in the shade to reduce heat exposure
- CHECK SECURITY: Ensure your battery is securely mounted
- WATCH FOR DAMAGE: Inspect for bloating or leakage
- CHOOSE THE RIGHT BATTERY: Consider whether your battery is designed to handle higher temperatures and increasing electrical demands. Options such as AGM batteries are well-suited for more demanding conditions
An AGM ("Absorbent Glass Mat") battery holds electrolytes in glass mats. In traditional "flooded" batteries (EFB) the electrolytes move around freely in a casing, while AGM technology is spill-proof and maintenance-free. This design can offer advantages as vehicles place higher demands on battery performance, particularly in more extreme conditions such as heat, and are ideal for vehicles with higher electrical demands, frequent short trips or idling, harsh environments and start-stop technology.
Battery maintenance tips
As vehicles integrate more electronic features and power-hungry functions, the role of the 12-volt battery continues to expand. The requirements for a traditional car battery have evolved beyond starting the vehicle to support safety critical and convenience features including advanced driver assistance systems. The low-voltage battery provides reliable and dependable power, protecting against failures that could put occupants at risk.
Clarios experts recommend not running accessories with the engine off and avoiding short trips whenever possible. Additionally, drivers need to heed dashboard warning signs. Yet even without obvious signs of battery degradation, vehicle owners should seek a professional battery test if their battery is more than three years old. One easy thing to do is make sure you mark your calendar when you get a new battery.
Selecting the right battery and proper maintenance can make for a summer of fun without worrying about diminished vehicle performance or worse, a dead battery somewhere down the road.
For more battery tips and informative videos, visit AutoBatteries.com.
Source: BrandPoint
